Malawi needs $700,000 to ward off Ebola

Malawi said it needs almost $700,000 as its budget to fully prepare against the eventuality of the Ebola epidemic which has ravaged West Africa over the past seven months.Ministry of Health Deputy Director for Epidemiology, Dr Matthew Kagoli told journalists in Lilongwe during Thursday’s EVD media orientation, that the funds will cover all preparedness efforts including trainings, surveillance, civic education, personal screenings and environmental hygiene among others measures.

“We have put in place a work plan which will guide the country in many ways including case management measures to monitor, prevent and deal with any Ebola suspect in the country,” he said.

He added that all entry points including airports have been provided with necessary equipment to screen and isolate the cases if there is any.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) Resident Representative, Dr Eugene Nyarko, said there is a need for each country to put preparatory measures against the epidemic.

“There is a potential risk that this disease can be transmitted to other countries. Therefore there is need for the countries including Malawi to be prepared,” he said.

He added that there is no specific treatment that can cure the disease but added that chance of survival improves if people report early to hospital to deal with the symptoms.

However, the disease which started in 1976 in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has spread to Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Nigeria killing over 1, 200 people.